Sunday Sevens July 3rd

Sunday Sevens is a weekly blog series created by Natalie on the Threads and Bobbins Blog. The idea is to post seven photos of what you’ve got up to that week, a way of recording the smaller moments that don’t necessarily warrant a blog post of their own.

This year I want to keep blogging now that #30dayswild has come to an end. I still have a couple of posts left about the challenge, a round up and a what comes next, but thought that joining in Sunday Sevens would be a good way to record some of what I get up to and keep my blogging at least semi regularly.

So, here goes:

I’ve been involved in the Wildlife Trust’s #30dayswild challenge to complete a Random Act of Wildness every day in June. The challenge finished on Thursday and it’s been a blast. I’ve loved reading blogs, connecting with people on facebook and twitter, and getting out there and going wild myself. Here’s the calendar of what I got up to during the month.

I’ve had a long weekend off work this week, so on Friday we ignored the rain and went for a walk at the Heather Farm in Horsell after a delicious breakfast at the Water’s Edge cafe there. We visited the Heather Farm during June for an evening talk and walk learning about its transformation from industrial site to beautiful wetland. It was great to visit again and walk by ourselves, even if it was a bit damp.

After what feels like a very wet month of June this weekend the sun has finally come out, often drifting behind clouds before popping out again, but its been lovely, and the garden is appreciating it too, flowers are bursting into life all around.

4. On Sunday we visited Wakehurst Place, Kew’s Country Garden in West Sussex to visit their Coronation Meadow on #NationalMeadowsDay The meadow was beautiful, full of yellow rattle and stretching right down the hill, a rare sight in our modern landscape. There was also a Wild Food Festival happening this weekend, so of course we got stuck in tasting all the delicious food on offer. We were particularly enamoured of the Maverick Mojitos. I had a Spicy Mango mojito, a real taste bud tickler, sweet, hot and delicious.

5. We also took part in a World Record attempt, for the longest Straw Bale Picnic table in the world ever. At 12.15 we sat down with lots of other people all along the table, over 100m long, and tucked into our picnic, all purchased from the wild food festival. That’s rhubarb cider and edible flowers as part of my lunch, gorgeous!

We watched the officials looking very serious, hands clasped behind their backs as the table was measured and the record attempt observed.I hope we broke the record!

6. As part of the Wild Food Festival, foraging walks were also on offer, with Marlow from Wild Food UK. After a talk introducing various edible plants and mushrooms, as well as some that are not edible, we supped elderflower champagne then headed off for a brisk walk around the grounds looking at the overlooked tasty treats under our feet. It was really interesting, especially the information about mushrooms, which many people seem so scared to try. We’ve already been looking on their website at foraging walks to join them on later in the year.

7. And finally, we’ve enjoyed a lovely sunny Sunday, with lunch al fresco, and then a walk through the woods and meadows close to home. The meadows are coloured with a profusion of flowers and alive with butterflies and bees, like this gorgeous skipper.